Florist Barronelle Stutzman Takes Brave Stand Against Tyranny

Progressive authorities are getting no contrition from the florist whose “personal ruin” was authorized by a judge to punish her for not rejecting her Christian faith in favor of the gay agenda. Even in the Age of Hope & Change, some of us still have character:

A Washington florist who refused to provide flowers for a gay wedding rejected an offer from the state to settle a discrimination case by paying a $2,000 fine.

Barronelle Stutzman, a 70-year-old grandmother, wouldn’t provide flowers from her shop in Richland, Washington, for the 2013 wedding of Robert Ingersoll and Curt Freed.

When longtime customer Ingersoll came to Arlene’s Flowers and asked for the flowers, the devout Southern Baptist told him her ‘relationship with Jesus Christ’ wouldn’t allow her to do the wedding.

Her rejection led to multiple lawsuits, including one from Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson.

If the lawsuits are successful, Stutzman could be required to pay damages and legal fees that far exceed the attorney general’s offer to settle the matter.

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In addition to the $2,000 fine, the settlement Stutzman rejected said if the florist chose to continue selling flowers for weddings she would have to sell the items to all couples, including same-sex couples.

In a letter to Ferguson, Stutzman wrote,

‘Washington’s constitution guarantees us “freedom of conscience in all matters of religious sentiment.”

‘I cannot sell that precious freedom.’

Better to make them take it by force, even if it means they will crush you. If enough people were capable of this sort of heroism, liberal fascism never would have progressed to the point of business owners being purposely compelled to violate their moral principles.

On tips from Artfldgr, Wiggins, Gary, and Feet2Fire. Cross-posted at Moonbattery.